Abdominal supporter.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

E. M. TEMPLE. ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

A TTOHNE VS.

Wm M m W/ TN E SSE S ATENT FFICEQ EVA MAY TEMPLE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,644, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed August 14, 1902. Serial No. 119,649. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, EVA MAY TEMPLE, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Abdominal Supporters or Bandages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in abdominal supporters or bandages, and has for its object to produce a supporter or bandage that shall be sanitary, simple, efficient, and easily adjusted and one that can be worn fftli all times with comparatively little discomort.

My invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the device as in use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the parts in outspread position. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 00 w of Fig. 2.

The bandage consists of the body portion cut in the shape shown in Fig. 2 and comprising what will be designated as the front portion, the hip portions, and the back portions. The front portion A, it will be noticed, is out high at its top center a and has an extension or prolongation a at its bottom center. From the top center it has a dip and forms the hip portions B and then curves upwardly and forms the back portions 0.

Thebandage may be made of a single piece, or the various parts may be separately cut and sewed together, and it may be made of leather, elastic silk, or any suitable textile fabric.

Secured to the bandage are the curved pieces a which are sewed to the same and have the downward extension o which is turned back and sewed to the bandage and forms a loop, in which is held a buckle a Said loop is so positioned that it will lie on the hip when the bandage is secured to the body of a person.

Secured to the bottom extension or prolongation of the front portion of the bandage are the two straps a a", the free ends of which are adjustably held by the buckles a and these straps form what I shall designate as thigh-straps.

Ator near one end of the members forming the back portions of the bandage I secure a plurality of horizontally-disposed straps 0, preferably three, and on the opposite member, forming the back portion of the bandage, at some distance from the end thereof I attach the horizontally-disposed tabs 0, to the outer ends of which I secure the buckles 0 When Worn on the body, the back portions usually overlap; but being lined with a smooth material they will cause no inconvenience.

It will be observed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that the bandage is high in front, droops or dips over the hips, and rises again and is high at the back and that it also forms a broad bearing at the back.

The thigh-straps when worn come between the creases of the legs and are particularly important, as they tighten the bandage where the bowels fall heaviest against the abdomen, where in all cases a bandage should be tightest. The lowermost back-strap can be drawn very tight and the upper ones left quite loose and still get the desired results across the abdomen, as the pressure is across the hips and the wide part of back.

The bandage can be worn at night with perfect comfort by loosening the thigh-straps, and the buckles all bear against a fabric, and hence cannot irritate the flesh, and the points of the tongues of the buckles are guarded, thus preventing the clothes catching thereon and tearing.

The bandage will be found beneficial in cases of weak back, as the device is broad in the back and evenly adjustable.

My device is particularly beneficial in all cases of abdominal operations, is also beneficial in cases of hernia, as it holds herniapads in proper place, is adapted for women troubled with female weakness, and is especially useful during pregnancy and is very essential after confinement. Being wide and shaped to fit the back it will hold down what are known as floating kidneys. The front portion is provided with the slanting darts a which give the bandage the necessary curvature to fit the body.

This bandage will not interfere with or change the figure of the person wearing it, does not come in contact with the waist-line,

will not push up over the hips, but is always in its proper place. The bandage is light and is not bulky, can be readily washed, rendering it sanitary, and does not press the fat of the abdomen up, but presses it back and holds it in proper place, as it is out high directly in front, low on the hips, and again high in the back, and contains no elastic or rubber to become damaged by the heat of the body. The curved pieces a form a reinforce and are so portioned that they distribute evenly on the hip portion the strain carried by the thigh-straps.

The bandage will be lined with a perfectly smooth fabric, so that no irritation can be caused by the wearing of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An abdominal supporter or bandage comprising a body portion having a high front portion which is provided with a downward prolongation, lowhip portions, high back portions, thigh-straps rigidly secured at one end to the downward projection of the front portion, and at their other end adjustably secured to lower edge of the hip portions, a plurality of straps secured upon the outer face of one of the back portions, a plurality of tabs secured to the outer face of the other back portion, and means for adjustably connecting the said horizontally-disposed straps with the tabs.

2. An abdominal supporter or bandage comprising a body portion consisting of the highcut front portion provided with a downward prolongation at its bottom center, low-cut hip portions, curved strips secured to the face of said hip portions and provided with loops at their rear ends extending downwardly and rearwardly from the said hip' portions, thighstraps rigidly secured at one end to the downward prolongation of the front portion, and at their free ends adj ustably secured to said loops,back portions extending upwardly from the hip portions, a plurality of straps secured at one end adjacent to the end of one of the back portions and upon its outer face, a plurality of tabs secured to the outer face of the other back portion, and means for adjustably connecting the straps with the tabs.

EVA MAY TEMPLE.

Witnesses:

CHESTER A. WHITEMORE, ARTHUR ANDERSON. 

